Decorative cover for women&#39;s shoes



P 1966 J. s. LIEBMANN ETAL 3,

DECORATIVE COVER FOR WOMENS SHOES.

Filed May 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :2 .2?? 5 INVENTORS.

JACK 5. LIEBMANN RALPH MEMOLE \HARoL0 BARKOWITZ ATTORNEY P 6, 1966 J. 5.LIEBMANN ETAL 3,270,442

DECORATIVE covnn FOR woman's saoms Filed May 7, 1965 2 sneet-sheet zINVENTORE. JACK s. LIEBMANN RALPH MEMOLE BY HAROLD sARKowlTz i. HSM

AITORMFY United States Patent This invention relates to womens shoes andis directed particularly to improvements in reuseable decorative coversfor womens dress shoes.

In United States Patent No. 3,221,421, issued December 7, 1965, to thepresent inventors there is described I a reuseable decorative shoe coverespecially suitable for use with formal and semi-formal pumps of thetype having an eggshell throat and long, slender heel. Particularly,that patent describes a decorative shoe cover comprising a soft leatheror leather-like sole secured to which is a flexible shoe upper memberadapted to be stretched over the upper of a shoe, the sole member beingintegrally formed with a sole shank portion and a breasting member, anda flexible, fabric heel-covering portion secured to the back of theupper covering member, and pressure-sensitive adhesive means forremovably securing the breasting member against the inside marginalportions of the shoe opening. The present invention has for itsprincipal object the improvement of such shoe covers by the provision ofa novel pro-formed heel cover portion of unitary construction with therest of the shoe cover, thereby simplifying its application to a shoe.

Another object is to provide a shoe cover of the above nature whereinthe heel portion will be of cup-like shape pre-forrned to fit overtapered high heels of womens shoes in form-fitting relationship.

A more particular object is to provide a shoe cover of the characterdescribed wherein the heel cover portion comprises a flexible yet fairlystiff fabric inner heel cover member, and a relatively supple fabricouter heel cover member joined with said inner member, to provide acuplike cover having sufficient rigidity to independently maintain itsshape for ease of application to a shoe heel when covering a shoe, yetbeing of sufficient flexibility in the outer heel cover member toreadily conform in closefitting embracing relation to the shape of theshoe heel to which it is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a shoe cover, a heelcover member of the above nature which is provided with an opening atits lower end for projection therethrough of the tip of the heel towhich it is fitted.

Yet another object is to provide a decorative heel cover member of theabove nature which can be used independently of an upper cover forchanging the appearance of womens shoes and which, for this purpose,includes pressure-sensitive adhesive means for its securement to theheel. In this embodiment of the invention the heel cover preferably willbe highly decorated by the use of unusual outer fabric designs andsurface treatments, such as by the use of sequins and the like, todistinctly change the appearance of a shoe although overing only theheel.

Still another object is to provide shoe covers of the character abovedescribed which will be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to apply andremove from a shoe, and sufficiently durable to permit reuse many times.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdenote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a womans shoe before Patented Sept. 6,1966 covering with a decorative shoe cover embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form of decorative cover for womensshoes;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the shoe cover of FIG. 2applied over the shoe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the shoe cover of FIG. 2 illustratingconstructional details of the heel cover portion and its method ofattachment to the upper portion of the shoe cover;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 ofFIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 ofFIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 3 inthe direction of the arrows and illustrating how the shoe cover upperportion is secured at the foot opening of the shoe;

FIG. 8 illustrates in perspective, a decorative heel cover member foruse in independently covering the heel of a womans shoe;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, as seen from the underside, of a shoecovered by a modified form of shoe cover embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, S in FIG. 1 designates, generally, a womansshoe, and FIG. 2 illustrates a decorative cover embodying the invention,designated generally by numeral 10, shown before application to the shoeof FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates the decorative cover of FIG. 2 applied tothe shoe of FIG. 1, the same being fitted and secured in place by themethod and means hereinafter described.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, the decorative shoe cover 10comprises a sole member 12, which is preferably of a supple leather suchas calfskin having a thickness of about inch, integrally formed with asole shank portion 13 the outer end of which is integrally formed with abreasting member 14. Attached against the upper side of the sole 12 anda sole shank portion 13 is a flexible upper member 15, of such shape asto fit snugly over the shoe to be covered, a high-heeled pump asillustrated by way of example in the drawings. The upper member 15,which is preferably fabricated of a cotton, satin, or silklike orleather-like fabric having two dimensional stretch qualities, will be ofa color and pattern to effect the desired change in external appearanceof a shoe. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper member 15 can be securedagainst the top of the sole 12 by having lower marginal portions 16 ofsaid upper member glued thereto by adhesive, as indicated at 17. Thebreasting member 14 extending from the sole member 12 is so shaped as toconform to the inside wall of the shoe heel portion to which it isaffixed as hereinbelow more particularly described (see FIG. 4).

The flexible upper member 15 of the decorative cover 10 has a marginalportion 20 about the foot opening adapted to be folded in over the rimof a shoe upper. Pressure-sensitive means is provided for securing themarginal portion 20 in place, said means preferably comprising an insidemarginal coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive 22, the surface of whichis protectingly covered with a paper or fabric strip 23 before use. Theprotective strip 23 is preferably provided with a tab 25 to facilitateits removal.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the heel cover portion 11 embodyingour improved shoe cover is hollow and self-supporting in the approximateshape of the high or moderately high heel which it is designed to cover.Preferably the heel cover portion 11 is fabricated by forming it over adummy heel of the desired shape. A salient feature of the heel coverportion 11 resides in the greater stiffness given to the inner wallportion 26 as compared with that of the outer Wall portion 27, wherebythe inner wall portion provides the stiffness required for preservingthe shape of the heel cover to prevent wrinkling or other deformation ofthe heel cover which would spoil its appearance in use, while at thesame time permitting limited flexing of the outer wall portion in itsembracing conformance to shoe heels of slightly different shapes, as mayoccur in shoes of the same type by a different manufacture. To this end,we have found that the heel cover portion 11 is best fabricated bymaking the inner portion 26 of a piece of stiff though somewhat flexiblefabric, such as of buckram, and the outer wall portion 27 of arelatively supple fabric. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the outerwall portion 27 of the heel cover portion 11 is secured to therelatively stiff inner wall portion 26 by having marginal side portions28 and 29 thereof affixed inwardly against marginal outer side portionsof said inner wall portion by a suitable adhesive. The upper and loweredges of the outer wall portion of the heel cover portion 11 are rolledor folded in as indicated at 30 and 31 to present a finished appearance,said rolls or folds being secured by stitching or a suitable adhesive.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heel cover portion 11 is secured tothe remainder of the shoe cover by gluing or otherwise affixing amarginal portion 24 at the heel opening end of the flexible upper memberagainst the inside upper portion of said heel cover portion, after whichthe breasting member 14 at the end of the sole shank portion 13 isglued, heat sealed, or otherwise affixed against the inside of the heelcover portion to complete the appearance of a finished shoe.

In the use of the decorative shoe cover 11 it will be applied simply byslipping it over the toe of the shoe and then pulling it up at the backinto form-fitting position over the heel and the back of the shoe. Themarginal portion at the top of the decorative cover 10, after havingremoved the protective strip 23, will then be turned in over the rim atthe shoe opening and pushed down against the inside of the shoe, tosecure it in place by means of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 22. Theroll at the upper end of the outer wall portion of the heel portion 11will, as .illustrated in FIG. 3, register generally with the curved lineof juncture at the heel seat of the shoe to which the cover is to befitted. The tip of the shoe heel will project slightly from the lowerend of the heel portion of the cover.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a decorative heel cover member 11a for useindependently of a shoe upper cover, said separate heel cover memberdiffering from the abovedescribed heel cover portion 11 in that it haspermanently secured thereto against the inside, as by a suitableadhesive or any other means of attachment, a separate breasting portion32 having an outwardly-projecting tongue portion 33, which breastingportion may be of a supple leather or leather-like material of beige ortan color to match the color of the sole shank member of the shoe towhich it is applied. As a means for securing the heel cover member 11ain place, an inner marginal portion at the upper end is coated with apressure-sensitive adhesive 34, protected by a pull-away cover strip 35until ready for use. In addition, the tongue portion 33 is similarlycoated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 36 protected before use with acover strip 37.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of our improved decorative shoe coverdiffering from that of FIGS. 1 through 7 only in that the sole member12a and shank portion 13a instead of fully covering the sole and shankportion at the underside of a shoe, consist of marginal portions only,coated at the inside with a suitable pressure-sensitive adhesive 38serving for attachment against outer marginal portions of a shoe soleand shank. A cover strip (not illustrated) is preferably provided toprotect the adhesive 38 before application of the cover to a shoe.

Removal of the shoe and heel covers is effected simply by carefullypulling away their adhesive portions and then slipping them off. In thecase of heel cover members 11a, the adhesive covering tapes can bereplaced. The heel cover pairs can then be nested one within the otherfor compact storage in a suitable box. The comparative stiffness of theflexible inner wall portions of the heel covers will prevent collapseand thereby preserve their shape to insure smooth fitting during theirentire lifetime of repeated use.

While we have illustrated and described herein only three forms in whichour invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, these forms arepresented by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. Theinvention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modificationscoming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a decorative cover for a womans shoe of the type having a sole, aprojecting heel and an upper defining a foot opening, the combinationcomprising, a flexible upper member shaped to conform to the outersurface of a wom ans shoe when fitted thereon and having a toe end and aheel end and a foot opening, a flexible sole member in the shape of awomans shoe, said sole member being integrally formed with a sole shankportion and a heel breasting member, means attaching said upper memberto said sole member and said sole shank portion to provide a pockettherewith for receiving a womans shoe, said upper member having anopening at its heel end for receiving in outwardly-projecting relationthereto the heel of a womans shoe fitted in said pocket, and a heelcover member secured to said upper member in surrounding relation to theheel opening thereof, said heel cover member comprising an inner heelwall cover portion of a flexible yet fairly stifi' fabric, and an outerheel wall cover portion of a relatively supple fabric joined to saidinner heel wall portion and together therewith forming a hollow memberhaving upper and lower end openings adapted to be fitted over the heelof a womans shoe in embracing relation with respect thereto and with theheel tip projecting outwardly of said lower end opening, said heelbreasting member comprising an outer wall portion of said heel covermember.

2. A decorative cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 1 includingfolded-in portions at the upper and lower ends of said outer heel wallcover portion.

3. A decorative cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 1 whereinmarginal side portions of said outer heel cover portion are turnedinwardly and secured against marginal outside portions of said innerheel wall cover portion.

4. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes comprising, in combination,an inner heel wall cover portion of a flexible yet fairly stiff fabric,and an outer heel wall cover portion of a relatively supple fabricjoined to said inner heel wall portion and together therewith forming ahollow member having upper and lower end openings adapted to be fittedover the heel of a womans shoe in embracing relation with respectthereto and with the heel tip projecting outwardly of said lower endopening, marginal side portions of said outer heel cover portion beingturned inwardly and secured against marginal outside portions of saidinner heel wall cover portion.

5. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 4including a breasting member secured in covering relation against saidmarginal side portions of said outer heel cover portion.

6. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 5including means for securing said outer heel cover portion with respectto a shoe heel.

7. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 6wherein said securing means comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesiveapplied to an inner marginal portion at the upper end of said outer heelcover portion.

8. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 7wherein said breasting member includes 'a tongue portion extendingoutwardly beyond the upper ends of said marginal side outer heel coverportion, and wherein said securing means further comprises apressuresensitive adhesive on said tongue portion for securing it to theshank portion of a womans shoe.

9. In a decorative cover for a womans shoes of the type having a sole, aprojecting heel and an upper defining a foot opening, the combinationcomprising, a flexible upper member shaped to conform to the outersurface of a womans shoe when fitted thereon and having a toe end and aheel end and a foot opening, a flexible sole member in the shape of awomans shoe, said sole member being formed with a sole shank portion,said upper member comprising a continuous marginal strip in the form ofa loop and defining a central opening, means attaching said upper memberto said sole member and said sole shank portion to provide a pockettherewith for receiving a womans shoe, said upper member having anopening at its heel end for receiving in outwardly-projecting relationthereto the heel of a womans shoe fitted in said pocket, and a heelcover member secured to said upper member in surrounding relation to theheel opening thereof, said heel cover member comprising an inner heelwall cover portion of a flexible yet fairly still fabric, and an outerheel wall cover portion of a relatively supple fabric joined to saidinner heel wall portion and together therewith forming a hollow memberhaving upper and lower end openings adapted to be fitted over the heelof a womans shoe in embracing relation wit-h respect thereto and withthe heel tip projecting outwardly of said lower end opening, said heel'breasting member comprising an outer wall portion of said heel covermember.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,531,493 3/1925Max-on 36-72 2,109,193 2/1938 Field et a1 36-72 2,262,253 11/1941 Rule36-1 2,915,836 12/1959 McDonough 36-72 3,138,882 6/1964 Maya 36-343,196,559 7/1965 Thompson 36-2.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 16,681 1915 Scott.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner.

1. IN A DECORATIVE COVER FOR A WOMAN''S SHOE OF THE TYPE HAVING A SOLE,A PROJECTING HEEL AND AN UPPER DEFINING A FOOT OPENING, THE COMBINATIONCOMPRISING, A FLEXIBLE UPPER MEMBER SHAPED TO CONFORM TO THE OTHERSURFACE OF A WOMAN''S SHOE WHEN FITTED THEREON AND HAVING A TOE END ANDA HEEL END AND A FOOT OPENING, A FLEXIBLE SOLE MEMBER IN THE SHAPE OF AWOMAN''S SHOE, SAID SOLE MEMBER BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH A SOLESHANK PORTION AND A HEEL BREASTING MEMBER, MEANS ATTACHING SAID UPPERMEMBER TO SAID SOLE MEMBER AND SAID SOLE PORTION TO PROVIDE A POCKETTHEREWITH FOR RECEIVING A WOMAN''S SHOE, SAID UPPER MEMBER HAVING ANOPENING AT ITS HEEL END FOR RECEIVING IN OUTWARDLY-PROJECTING RELATIONTHERETO THE HEEL OF A WOMAN''S SHOE FITTED IN SAID POCKET, AND A HEELCOVER MEMBER SECURED TO SAID UPPER MEMBER IN SURROUNDING RELATION TO THEHEEL OPENING THEREOF, SAID HEEL COVER MEMBER COMPRISING AN INNER HEELWALL COVER PORTION OF A FLEXI-